Microblister skin grafting

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to devices for harvesting a skin graft(s). The present invention provides a blister raising device integrated with a member for cutting the blister.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A device for obtaining a skin graft, the device comprising:
 a head adapted for coupling to a cutting body that is disposable on a patient's skin and further adapted for coupling to a vacuum source, 
 the head comprising
 a sealing surface to engage with a mating surface on the cutting body such that, when the head is engaged with the cutting body on a patient's skin, an evacuated chamber is formed over a target region of skin; 
 a heating element for raising the temperature of the target region of skin; and 
 at least one viewing window integrated within the head for concurrently observing a plurality of blisters formed by heating the skin in the evacuated chamber; 
 
 the cutting body comprising
 a cutter plate; and 
 an actuator for moving the cutter plate from a first position to a second position and at least partially retracting the cutter plate from said second position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one window is formed on a side surface of the head so as to provide a non-parallel viewing angle to the patient's skin. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises at least one light source for illuminating skin blisters as they are being raised. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said viewing window comprises a substantially transparent material. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein said substantially transparent material is selected from the group consisting of an optical polymer, an optical glass, and an optical crystal. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said viewing window further comprises a magnification lens. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said magnification lens magnifies objects at a magnification ranging from about 2× to about 100×. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said viewing window comprises one or more materials selected from an anti-fogging material, an anti-scratch coating, and an anti-glare coating. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said viewing window comprises a heat resistant material. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said viewing window comprises an ocular shield configured for attenuating entrance of ambient light. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the head further comprising at least one temperature measuring element for measuring the temperature of the skin or evacuated chamber. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one temperature measuring element comprises at least one thermistor. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 1  wherein the heating element is a resistive electrical heating element. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cutter plate is coupled to a sled. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said actuator comprises a handle and a cylindrical bar linking the handle to the sled, said cylindrical bar having a first and a second non-symmetric protrusion, wherein said first protrusion engages with a mating groove in the sled when the handle is in a cocked position such that as the handle is rotated, the sled is forced to move by rotation of the cylindrical bar, thereby moving the cutter plate from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein said actuator is configured such that at a transitional state during rotation of the handle the first protrusion detaches from said groove and the second protrusion engages with another position of the sled so as to cause the sled to move in the opposite direction, thereby retracting the cutter plate from said second position.